Johan, Duke of Östergötland was the fourth son of Karl IX and younger brother of Gustav II Adolf. His duchy was essentially a political arrangement — Swedish royal dukes of this period held appanage territories with limited actual authority, the crown carefully ensuring no rival power base could develop. This 1613 issue predates Johan's death in 1618, placing it early in what was already a truncated period of ducal coinage for Östergötland.
The Type I designation distinguishes it from later die variations struck during the same short ducal run. KM#62 survivors are genuinely scarce.
Johan, Duke of Östergötland was the fourth son of Karl IX and younger brother of Gustav II Adolf. His duchy was essentially a political arrangement — Swedish royal dukes of this period held appanage territories with limited actual authority, the crown carefully ensuring no rival power base could develop. This 1613 issue predates Johan's death in 1618, placing it early in what was already a truncated period of ducal coinage for Östergötland.
The Type I designation distinguishes it from later die variations struck during the same short ducal run. KM#62 survivors are genuinely scarce.